Elphinstone has become a name synonymous with the mining industry, manufacturing specialised equipment for the underground and surface sectors for 50 years.
From underground mining support vehicles to off-highway haul trucks and mine extraction equipment, the company is also a well-established Caterpillar OEM Solutions customer.
Eleven companies now operate under the Elphinstone Group banner throughout Asia Pacific, with the brand continuing to strengthen its capabilities and expand its presence across multiple heavy-industry sectors.
While founded in 1975, the company name has featured in the industry as early as the 1960s, with founder Dale Elphinstone’s professional journey starting in 1966 at the age of just 15 – becoming an apprentice for Victorian and Tasmanian Cat dealer, William Adams. After completing his trade qualification, he was employed as a Resident Field Service Mechanic across Tasmanian and King Island mine sites.
Two years later, he travelled overseas and commenced work with Canadian Cat dealer, Finning, in 1973.
It was in 1975 – when Dale Elphinstone was modifying Cat surface mining equipment for underground mining applications out of his father’s shed on their farm in Burnie, Tasmania – that Dale B Elphinstone Pty Ltd was established.
The opening of a head office on Hopkinson Street, Burnie, and the sale of the company’s first underground truck, the Elphinstone 79C (a modified Caterpillar 769C), soon followed in 1976 and 1977.
A constant stream of innovation quickly followed.
After initially pioneering a series of underground support vehicles, such as the 920 scaler and 925 integrated tool carrier using a modified Cat 920 wheel loader, Elphinstone’s first purpose-built underground dump trucks, the AD13 (pictured) and AD17, entered the market during the early 1980s.
Innovation and support for the mining industry didn’t stop there. Following an economic downturn in the mid-1980s, mining companies looked to reduce their tunnel sizes, a transition that required smaller machines with equal capacity.
In 1986 Elphinstone accepted the challenge and, in just seven months, it produced and sold its first fully designed and manufactured LHD, the R1500.
The following year, Elphinstone sold its first R1500 overseas to Freeport-McMoRan’s Henderson mine in the US.
Dale Elphinstone recalls negotiating with the purchasing team at Henderson: “The guy said to me quietly, you realise that your machine price is double your competition, and I said back to him quietly, I had no idea what the price of our competition was, because we sell the value of our product and what it will do for you.”
Elphinstone replaced 36 of the competitions’ loaders at Henderson with just 10 Elphinstone R1500 LHDs (an updated version pictured above).
Innovation, growth, philanthropy
By 1988, Elphinstone was going from strength to strength, developing and selling several new machines – including the R2800 LHD – the first of which is still operational today.
New developments followed in 1991, including the R1700 LHD and AD40 dump truck, designed to complement the larger LHDs.
The first R2900 was developed and sold in 1994, and by the end of that year, Elphinstone had delivered more than 200 LHDs globally.
The company’s success drew the attention of Caterpillar, and the two parties established a 50/50 joint venture in 1995, creating the business known as Caterpillar Elphinstone Pty Ltd. At the turn of the millennium, Caterpillar exercised its option to purchase the remaining 50% of the business, replacing the Elphinstone name with the Caterpillar trademark.
As the group further diversified and expanded its mining machinery portfolio, including the purchase and relocation of Haulmax (Aust) Pty Ltd to Tasmania, commercial acquisitions continued to expand Elphinstone’s footprint across Australia and overseas.
After the sale of its underground mining business to Caterpillar, Elphinstone was also able to accelerate its philanthropic efforts. One of the family’s early initiatives was a 50% contribution toward the purchase of an MRI scanner to aid early cancer detection and diagnosis. The purchase of a linear accelerator to deliver radiation therapy quickly followed.
The Elphinstone Group’s commitment to giving back to their local communities also extends to the sponsorship of local sporting events, clubs and organisations, it says.
After 15 years of continued manufacturing post the Elphinstone acquisition in 2000, Caterpillar advised of its intention to relocate its underground mining manufacturing operations from Burnie, Tasmania, to Rayong, Thailand. To secure the employment of skilled employees and maintain the well-established, local supply chain, Elphinstone worked with Caterpillar to “buy back” its brand and proceeded to consolidate the existing Haulmax business with newly acquired businesses, Specialised Vehicle Solutions (SVS) and Southern Prospect.
In 2016, Elphinstone spent A$11 million (US$7.3 million) refurbishing the previously leased Caterpillar manufacturing facilities and re-established itself in the underground mining industry, launching a new range of specialised underground hard-rock support vehicles.
A bright future
With innovation breeding innovation, and growth being superseded by greater growth, Elphinstone continues to push the dial when it comes to designing and manufacturing mining equipment, it says.
Since its re-entry to the market in 2016, Elphinstone has designed and developed more than 20 underground support vehicle configurations, which include both centre and front-mounted three-person cabs hosting several utilities, such as concrete agitators, delivery trucks, scissor lifts, water cannons and tilt trays. Further, the company is preparing to release its first hybrid diesel-electric vehicle in 2025, while continuing to research and develop a full battery-electric solution for the future.
The E15 powertrain will include multiple options – both diesel and electric – in the future depending on customer applications, requirements and appetite for decarbonisation, according to Elphinstone Global Sales and Marketing Manager, Tim Mitchell.
Elphinstone, today, is recognised as a pioneer of underground mining heavy vehicle solutions.
In 2019, Dale Elphinstone received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to business and philanthropic work.
At Austmine, in 2023, Dale Elphinstone received the ‘Champion of Innovation Award’ in recognition of his contribution to innovation in underground mining and manufacturing in Australia. More recently in 2024, he was honoured to become the first person outside of the US to be inducted into the National Mining Hall of Fame in Denver, Colorado, and, this month, he will be presented with the prestigious AusIMM Institute Award, celebrating the company’s dedication, leadership and commitment to excellence in advancing industry best practices and upholding the highest standards of professionalism.
